Welcome! This is a Non-Political and a Non-Profit site (to include its authors and contributors) and does not subscribe to any revisionist organizations. This site is only to explore the combat role and history of the European Waffen-SS in World War II. Enlistment rolls show that a total of 950,000 men (German and foreigners) served in its ranks between 1940 and 1945. This blog contains a collection of real events and information on these volunteers for historical research and documentation.

ϟϟ-Division „Totenkopf“ redesignated

SS-Untersturmführer der Totenkopf

From May 1942, elements of the SS-Division Totenkopf were withdrawn to rebuild in France, and new subunits were formed, so that a new Totenkopf Division organized even as the last of the old version bled to death in the Demyansk Pocket. Its survivors were finally withdrawn in October 1942, after German counter-attacks had finally driven the Soviets far enough back for the salient to be considered secure. At Demjansk, about 80% of its members were killed, wounded or missing in action. Only 6,400 Totenkopf soldiers remained alive. The Totenkopf Division now received replacements from the general élite pool of Waffen-SS thoroughly trained recruits and was redesignated SS-Panzergrenadier-Division Totenkopf in November 1942, but the division´s affiliation with the Allgemeine-SS in its early years even today stain the reputation of the later-formed élite division 3.SS-Panzer-Division Totenkopf. Image: An SS-Untersturmführer of the Totenkopf Division. Public Domain.